Joao Felix is the great protagonist in the duel between Atlético de Madrid y Barcelona this coming Sunday (9:00 p.m.). The Portuguese returns to Metropolitan in an atmosphere of great tension since it is one of the most criticized by Atlético fans, a team to which he will have to return at the end of the season.
The Portuguese, who is ceded At Barça this season, he knows that one of the toughest opposing environments of his career awaits him. Not only is he in a direct rival of Atlético, but his statements and gestures have not pleased the red and white fans at all, who have him in their sights.
And even more so after the first leg in the Montjuic Olympic Joao will celebrate with great effusiveness the goal that gave Barcelona the victory against Atlético. That day the forward forgot about his past (and his future) and vindicated himself before Simeone, the coach with whom he always had friction.
That is why Joao Félix knows what awaits him at the Cívitas Metropolitano this Sunday in the League duel. «It is going to be a very complicated environment for the entire team. Against me it's going to be a little worse», acknowledged the Portuguese player in an interview in DAZN prior to this duel.
Joao Félix will be “motivated” at the Metropolitano
Of course, Joao does not make excuses for that environment. “I am a soccer player and I have to be used to this type of things,” he added to also explain that this It will “motivate you more” because “I like these important and spicy matches, there is an extra motivation.”
These words further heat up a duel in which Barcelona is playing its last chance of fighting for the League title – it is eight points behind Real Madrid, which plays a day earlier, on Saturday, in Pamplona – and Atlético maintains fourth place. square, in which it only takes two points away from Athletic.
«The first leg at home was already difficult and it will be even more so there. They defend and go on the counterattack very well and the stands are going to help them a lot», also commented a Joao Félix relegated by Xavi Hernandez in the last times. The Portuguese did not start in the decisive duel against Naples and was relegated by Raphinha and Lamine Yamal in the last games.
His future at Barcelona
Regarding his future, which since he is on loan has a clear destination, Atlético de Madrid, Joao does not want to think because “I am focused” on Barcelona. “I don't think further because everything depends on how it goes until the end.” As OKDIARIO reports this Friday, andl Barcelona will ask Atlético to renew the loan because they are happy with it, but they don't want to keep it as their property either.
On the other hand, Joao Félix does not believe that Xavi's announcement that he is leaving at the end of the season has a direct relationship with the results: «We are playing the same and with the same formation, the same ideas, but it is football. Things weren't working out and now they are, but it's not because he said he was leaving.